Ebbsfleet crashed out of the FA Trophy on a nightmare afternoon at Oxford City.

They took the lead through Matt Godden but went on to suffer their first away defeat of the season after conceding twice in the minutes after half-time.

National South leaders Fleet also had captain Tom Bonner sent off as City laid down a marker against their title rivals.

Returning winger Anthony Cook was originally named among the Fleet substitutes but when Danny Haynes injured himself during the warm-up, Cook was promoted to the starting XI with Michael West drafted onto the bench.

That meant the Ebbsfleet line-up bore two changes from the dramatic 2-1 win at Hemel Hempstead, the other being JP Kissock's inclusion at the expense of Jordan Parkes.

Cook lined up wide on the right as the visitors adopted what looked like a 4-3-3 formation. Godden, having scored in his previous six games, took up a position to the left of Danny Kedwell in attack.

A strong wind blowing across the pitch made for a scrappy start. Matt Fish's free-kick from the right dropped to Stuart Lewis just outside the box and his volley flew wide.

The Fleet's pressing game was relentless, with Kedwell leading from the front.

And Kedwell's persistence led to the opening goal on 15 minutes when he won possession down the right and crossed low for the unmarked Godden. The ball held up in the muddy goalmouth but Godden wasn't put off, sweeping his shot past Laurie Walker to extend his fantastic scoring streak.

Godden almost made it 2-0 when he turned Cook's low free-kick towards the top corner but Oxford keeper Laurie Walker dived to his left and made a good save.

However, the home side then enjoyed a decent spell, led by midfielder Luke Coulson - whose wonder goal earned City a point in the league fixture at Stonebridge Road.

When Oxford broke three-on-two, Coulson laid the ball right to Bradley Bubb and his low shot across goal struck the far post before rebounding into the gloves of the grateful Brandon Hall.

Coulson then fired a shot towards the far corner and Hall did well, diving to his right, to get fingertips to the ball and turn it round the post.

But the Fleet goalkeeper was beaten in bizarre fashion just before the half-hour. Coulson's corner from the left swirled in the wind and dropped over the goal line, with the visiting players furious the goal was allowed to stand.

Coulson was now running things in midfield and Bubb shot wide as Oxford continued to press.

Ebbsfleet gradually regained a foothold but the windy conditions made for a poor spectacle.

Kedwell fired a low shot wide from 20 yards moments before the half-time whistle.

But the home side started the second half as they'd finished the first, Marlon Jackson almost converting a dangerous cross from the right before Oxford took the lead on 50 minutes.

Fleet failed to clear their lines in the right-back area and Declan Benjamin lashed a fine half-volley across Hall, who was rooted to the spot as the ball hit the back of the net.

Kedwell saw a free-kick deflect wide after Cook had been fouled but Oxford continued to dominate and it wasn't long before they extended their lead.

This time the goal came from Ebbsfleet's left. They were cut wide open and when the ball was laid back to Benjamin, he side-footed in from just inside the box for his second of the afternoon.

Godden shot over on the stretch but things were about to get even worse for the visitors.

Then a flare-up near the touchline saw players from both sides pile in and after what seemed like an eternity, referee Adam Penwell showed Bonner the red card.

It was comfortable for Oxford after that and Fleet boss Daryl McMahon sent on defender Anthony Acheampong for Godden to prevent further damage.

Cook smashed a wild shot over the bar and substitute Michael West headed wide but Ebbsfleet exited with a whimper the competition they won back in 2008.

Oxford: Walker, King, Isaac, Lafuente, Santiago, Arzamendi, Coulson, Pond, Jackson, Bubb, Benjamin. Subs not used: McDonagh, Sterling-James, Pifarre, Fleet.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Fish, Howe, Lewis, Clark, Bonner, Rance, Kissock (Sheringham 58mins), Kedwell, Godden (Acheampong 65mins), Cook (West 78mins). Subs not used: Miles, Parkes.

Attendance: 425.